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To Market, To Market

On Front Street the façade of St Lawrence Market has an almost stately appearance. The red of the bricks is enhanced by overflowing tubs of begonias, shady market umbrellas and a line of Canadian flags flapping in the breeze.

Step through the wide timber doors and the feeling of calm elegance disappears, as the bustle of vendors selling their wares is matched by the urgency of shoppers in search of the freshest produce and best bargains.

There has been a public market on this site since 1803, first in the north building and, since 1845, in the south. Today more than 120 specialty stores sell fresh foods – fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, bakery and dairy products.

As well as filling their baskets with fresh food to take home, hungry shoppers flock to the restaurants and cafés to fill up on local delicacies and traditional treats.

In April 2012, St Lawrence Market was declared by National Geographic as the world’s best food market.

After devouring our lunch of freshly made crêpes filled with fruit and cream, we could understand why!

I never get tired of the St Lawrence Market, but it was so packed when I was there two weeks ago… A great place for breakfast! Now I’m wishing we’d gone to that crepe place! I once bought a great hat there!

I don’t know the criteria, but this was by far the most amazing food market I’ve ever been to. It was over three floors and even though there were so many vendors not one was exactly the same as another. And the variety within each stall was fantastic. Most importantly, the prices were great.

I love a good market, and to have earned the title of the best in the world, it must be a very good market. and those crepes…. put the buckwheat pancakes I made yesterday to shame for sure. Looks like a place worth visiting, but oh the choices. I’d be like a kid in a lolly shop!

We loved looking but didn’t actually buy any of the fresh produce because it was the middle of the day and we were out all day, with no way to carry it or keep it fresh. Also we’d already stocked up our Airbnb fridge at the supermarket. If only we’d known…

Love visiting markets wherever we travel. The photo of the sign about a peameal bacon brought back memories of the first time I had it. A Canadian friend brought some back from a trip to Canada. She said that is what real Canadian bacon was…not what we get in the U.S.